Breaking Rust, the controversial AI country artist, dropped his EP Resilient back in October, and now it’s paying off big. On November 8, his lead track ‘Walk My Walk’ claimed the top spot on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart, edging out downloads from established names.
Modeled after gravelly talents like Marcus King and Chris Stapleton, Breaking Rust comes alive in visuals as a rugged cowboy figure; complete with stubble, dark hat and bandana—straight out of a dusty honky-tonk tale. His sound draws on deep blues roots with a country twang. Still, the whole package is engineered by Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, a low-profile creator tied to the AI brand Defbeatsai.
That stomp-clap groove in ‘Walk My Walk’ drives home a raw, unapologetic edge, layering compressed vocals over lyrics that push back against conformity. It’s got that lived-in feel of barroom confessions, blending bluesy bends with straightforward country hooks. However, the production leaves faint digital echoes if you listen closely. Sitting right behind it at No. 2 is Ella Langley‘s ‘Choosin’ Texas’. At the same time, another AI contender, Cain Walker, lands at No. 3 with ‘Don’t Tread On Me’.
As AI-generated music like Breaking Rust rises, the country music scene is pushing back hard. Veterans, including Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, and Chris Janson, have called out the glaring risks, including voice cloning and copyright infringement.
Martina McBride even laid it out clearly in the US Congress this year, demanding guardrails. Tennessee’s ELVIS Act, signed in March 2024, protects artists’ voices as protected speech, with civil suits and misdemeanor charges as deterrents. With at least six AI-generated musicians hitting Billboard debuts lately, including Xania Monet on R&B radio and The Velvet Sundown‘s psych-rock surge, the lines between real and ‘rendered’ are blurring fast, forcing the industry to reckon with what’s next.
Stream Resilient below:
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